Can You Play 3-Player Split Screen on Call of Duty Cold War Zombies?
The short answer is: No, you cannot play 3-player split screen on Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Zombies. While the game does support split-screen functionality, it is limited to a maximum of two players on a single console when playing locally. This restriction applies to all modes, including the beloved Zombies mode.
While this might be disappointing for those looking to enjoy the undead mayhem with three friends on the same screen, it’s essential to understand the game’s design and capabilities. The developers at Treyarch did prioritize the split-screen experience, but within the technical confines of the hardware.
Why Only Two-Player Split Screen?
The limitations on split-screen play often stem from the resource demands of rendering multiple perspectives simultaneously on one console. Each split-screen player requires the game to generate a separate viewpoint with its associated calculations for environment, enemies, and gameplay elements. This added load can strain the hardware, especially on older consoles like the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
While newer consoles such as the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S are more powerful, the game’s design, and potential limitations based on supporting older generation consoles likely kept the split-screen limited to two players. The development process involved choosing a balance between graphical fidelity, smooth gameplay, and the number of simultaneous split-screen views it could support. Ultimately, a two-player split-screen experience was deemed the most optimal.
What About Online Play?
The limitations regarding split-screen do not apply to online play. Black Ops Cold War Zombies allows for four-player online co-op. This means that you and three other players can team up against the undead, even if you’re all in separate locations. Moreover, the game supports combo co-op, allowing for two local players to team up with two other players online. This offers a way to engage with more friends, albeit requiring that each have their own console and copy of the game.
Exploring Other Options
If you are looking for a three-player local co-op Call of Duty experience, you might need to explore other titles in the franchise. Some older Call of Duty titles supported a unique three-player split-screen, but it’s essential to know that their implementation is limited. It was not always a full split-screen experience. For example, some games utilized a combination of two quarter screens and one half screen when 3 players were involved, which is not ideal for everyone.
How To Play Two-Player Split Screen on Cold War Zombies?
If you’re still interested in playing two-player split screen, setting it up is fairly simple. The steps are consistent across various console platforms such as PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S:
- Sign in to your primary account and launch Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.
- From the Main Menu, connect a second controller.
- Press the appropriate button (usually the “A” or “X” button, depending on the platform) on the second controller to connect the second player.
- The second player should now be attached, and both players can then navigate to the Zombies mode.
Additional Tips
- Ensure that both controllers are properly connected and recognized by the system.
- The second player may need to have their own account, which can be a Guest account on most systems.
- If you have issues with split screen not working, ensure that both controllers click “x” simultaneously when selecting zombies in the game menu.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 FAQs to provide further clarity on split screen and other related aspects of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Zombies:
1. Can you play Call of Duty Cold War Zombies with three people on one console using split screen?
No, three-player split-screen is not supported in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Zombies. The game only allows for a maximum of two local players on split screen.
2. What is the maximum number of players supported in Cold War Zombies online?
Up to four players can play Zombies in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War online.
3. Can two local players play with others online?
Yes, combo co-op is supported. Two local players can team up with two other players online in Zombies mode.
4. Which consoles support split screen in Call of Duty Cold War?
Split-screen is available on all consoles that support Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, including PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
5. Does Cold War have split screen in other modes like multiplayer?
Yes, split-screen is available in Multiplayer as well, but it’s also limited to two players on one screen.
6. Is there a 3 player split screen on any Call of Duty Zombies Mode?
Some older Call of Duty titles did have a 3-player split-screen option, but none of the newer Call of Duty games support 3 player split-screen. Typically it is 2 or 4 player split-screen only.
7. Does Call of Duty Black Ops 3 Zombies support 3-player split screen?
No, Black Ops 3 does not support 3-player split screen. It offers two-player split-screen online and up to four players locally.
8. Can you play 4-player split screen on Cold War Zombies?
No. Black Ops Cold War only supports two-player split-screen in Zombies mode. Four-player split-screen is not available.
9. How does split-screen work in Cold War?
Split-screen divides the screen into two halves, allowing two players to play simultaneously on a single console. Each player has their own view and controls.
10. Do both players in split-screen need separate accounts?
Typically, one player needs a primary account, while the second player can use a guest account. Some systems may require a second player account.
11. Can you adjust the split-screen orientation (horizontal/vertical)?
Yes, often you can choose between a horizontal or vertical split in the game’s settings or before the game starts.
12. Is there any performance difference when playing split-screen?
There can be a slight performance decrease in split-screen mode due to the increased resource demands, but it’s generally optimized well.
13. Does Cold War have a local multiplayer mode without split screen?
The only local multiplayer options are limited to split screen, but you can play online with up to four players on the same team.
14. Can I use a LAN connection for a three-player local multiplayer on Cold War?
No, LAN play for Cold War Zombies is limited to four players. However, that means 4 separate consoles are required and does not support 3 local players on one console.
15. What modes in Black Ops Cold War support split-screen?
Both Multiplayer and Zombies modes support two-player split screen in Black Ops Cold War. The Campaign does not support it.
In conclusion, while Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Zombies is a fantastic co-op experience, it is restricted to two-player split-screen. While you may not be able to enjoy the game with three players on one console locally, you still have the option to play online with up to four friends and with a combo split screen.